The 2016 UON Central Coast Sevens tournament was called the “best invitation tournament in the world” by former Fiji 7s Olympic Gold Medal winning coach, Ben Ryan.
According to the Central Coast 7s tournament manager, Mr Craig Morgan, the 2016 tournament was “an epic three days of intense sevens action, which saw history created as the Australian Pearls and the Australian Men’s 7s teams claimed back-toback titles for the fi rst time in the tournament’s history. “The Aussie Pearls Green side defeated the Aussie Pearls Gold side by 40 to 19,” Mr Morgan said. “Gold outnumbered green four gold medallists to three, but it was 18-year-old Emma Sykes who was the difference for Aussie Green,” he said.
“The Australian Men’s team defeated Fiji’s Uluinakau by 24 to 21 in an end-to-end battle that hung in the balance right to the fi nal whistle, when the Fijians made a last gasp attempt to secure victory.” Mr Morgan said the inaugural under 17s youth tournament had also been a resounding success. “The tournament, featuring eight girls’ and eight boys’ teams, has proven extremely popular, with interest already being received for 2017. “The New Zealand Wasps ran out winners in the girls’ division, defeating the Liverpool Cougars by 53 to 7, with the Wasps number 6 named the Cobie-Jane Morgan most valuable player. “In the boys’ tournament, the ACT Brumbies were too strong, claiming victory over NSW 7s by 22 to 12 in the boys’ final, with Stuart Stellar named the Jesse Parahi most valuable player,” Mr Morgan said.
Email, Nov 4, 2016 Craig Morgan, Central Coast 7s